Labour lifts ban on member who likened Tom Watson to Judas for taking ‘Jewish money’

LABOUR was last night accused of “making a mockery” of its pledge to root out anti-semitism after it readmitted an official who compared Tom Watson to Judas and suggested that he had been corrupted by “Jewish donors”.

Senior party insiders last night expressed disbelief after George Mcmanus, a national policy forum member, had his suspension lifted after an inquiry by Labour’s compliance unit.

The disclosure comes two months after Mr Mcmanus was suspended for attacking Labour’s deputy leader over his decision to intervene in the party’s anti-semitism row. Responding to an interview given by Mr Watson in August, in which he warned that Labour faced “eternal shame” over its ongoing anti-semitism row, Mr Mcmanus said: “At least Judas only got 30 pieces of silver. Apparently Electoral Commission states that Watson received £50,000 plus from Jewish donors.”

The Daily Telegraph understands that Mr Mcmanus was investigated by the unit, run by Jennie Formby, Labour general secretary, which decided not to refer him to the National Executive Committee for further action.

Last night Labour officials confirmed that Mr Mcmanus had been readmitted following an apology, adding that he had acknowledged that “the language used was unacceptable”.

However, allies of Mr Watson were quick to condemn the decision, describing it as “outrageous” and pointing out that he had not provided a personal apology.

Separately, The Telegraph can reveal that Labour has suspended Lee Jasper, a former parliamentary candidate, who last year called a black FGM campaigner a “f----- up negro”.

The disclosure, confirmed by Labour insiders, comes less than 24 hours after Mr Jasper claimed that Luciana Berger, an influential Jewish MP, had “disgraced herself ” because she needed police protection outside of the party’s annual conference in Liverpool.

A spokesman said Labour took all complaints of anti-semitism “extremely seriously” and investigated them “fully” in-line with its rules and procedures.